Business Travel
Tourist arrivals on the increase at Seashells, Negombo
BY ANJANA Gamage
AT THE completion of two months after tsunami tragedy (Feb. 26) I was in
Negombo, and the Seashells Hotel situated in Palangaturai, Kochchikade
in Negombo was full of foreigners enjoying the sun and the beach which
is one of the major tourist attractions in the island.
Seashells which comes under the wings of Jetwing Hotel
chain has four other hotels in Negombo by the names of The Beach, Blue
Oceanic Beach Hotel, Sea Garden and Ayurveda Pavilions.
General Manager of Seashells, Gamunu Karunaratne who has
started his career with Hotel Corporation in 1975 in an interview with
the Daily News said that the hotel was not affected by the recent
tsunami tragedy and is getting packed with its regular customers.
"When the tsunami hit the country, there were about 150
foreigners in our hotel. But nothing happened to us. During the month of
January there were 11 per cent tourist arrivals to the hotel. Although
we were not affected, the tour operators fear to bring down new tourist
arrivals here.
That is why the hotel is running with repeat client
arrivals most of whom are from U.K., Germany, France and the
Scandinavian countries", he said.
Seashells has been classified between 2-3 star class
hotel, started in 1972 with 40 rooms it has now been upgraded to 70
rooms.
"Sunset Restaurant" is a well built cadjan hut which
adds a new look to the hotel equipped with other modern facilities such
as pool bar, swimming pool, ayurvedic centre, beach games and indoor
games.
According to the General Manager certain sections of the
hotel are scheduled to undergo new refurbishment plans from mid March to
add more facilities shortly.
"Media can play a better role to uplift the tourism
industry and put it back on track. One should restrain from presenting
tsunami destruction all the time on electronic and print media. It has
to highlight the areas which have not been affected by tsunami and
promote the foreigners to visit those areas", he said.
Papa and his visit
BUDACK Gunter (78) from Germany, well-known as 'Papa' is a popular
figure to the Seashells Hotel as he has visited there for 32 times so
far. According to the sources he visited Sri Lanka for the first time in
1980 and has completed 82 arrivals so far.
He had visited several locations including Unawatuna,
Galle and Bentota and whenever he visits Negombo, prefers to stay at the
same room he checked in for the very first time at the Seashells hotel,
sources said.
As soon as he left the island last December, tsunami had
strucked the island and he was the first visitor to Seashells after the
tragedy.
"I consider Sri Lanka as my second home and Negombo is
the best place I want to be when I come", said Papa who is loved by all
the hotel staff.
He spends as long as 15 weeks and swimming and fishing
are the two best hobbies of his.
Although Papa was born in Germany, he is out from his
native place for nine months and travels around the world rest of the
year and is expected to celebrate Christmas this year in Sri Lanka for
the first time as well. |
